Senator Kennedy Announces Legislature Approves NYSUNY 2020 Bill

Senator calls approval of SUNY plan a critical step toward achieving UB 2020 vision

ALBANY, N.Y. – Senator Timothy M. Kennedy, D-58th District, announced that the Senate has approved the NYSUNY 2020 plan to empower the University at Buffalo and the State University of New York to become engines for economic growth. The legislation will make SUNY more sustainable with a rational tuition policy.

“This is a critical breakthrough for SUNY, the University at Buffalo, New York’s students and the Western New York economy,” Senator Kennedy said. “For our students and their families, this rational tuition policy means a long-awaited end to what’s become known as “tuition roulette” – where the state randomly increases tuition in large spurts to fill budget gaps. It’s a more sustainable model that will help families plan for their student’s education. At the same time, a SUNY education will remain affordable and accessible to all New Yorkers because this legislation contains essential protections for working families.

“This bill carries the potential to amplify the overall economic and academic impact of the University at Buffalo and the State University system. The NYSUNY 2020 plan will help boost our state’s job creation efforts and advance our goals to achieve new research discoveries with SUNY’s world-renown faculty and ambitious students.

“By reinvesting in academic excellence and growing the university system, SUNY can spark future development and job growth within the Western New York economy. This legislation will help higher education become a driver for economic development in our state. It puts us an important step closer toward igniting the job creation engines that SUNY and UB can become.

“I thank Governor Cuomo for his leadership on this issue and my colleagues for understanding the role that the University at Buffalo and SUNY can play in the revitalization of Western New York and all of New York State.”